AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Punishers: Responses from the environment that decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishment weakens behavior. We can all think of examples of how our own behavior has been affected by reinforcers and punishers.

Detailed explanation-2: -In negative punishment, you remove a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior. For example, when a child misbehaves, a parent can take away a favorite toy. In this case, a stimulus (the toy) is removed in order to decrease the behavior.

Detailed explanation-3: -Operant conditioning can also be used to decrease a behavior via the removal of a desirable outcome or the application of a negative outcome. For example, a child may be told they will lose recess privileges if they talk out of turn in class. This potential for punishment may lead to a decrease in disruptive behaviors.

Detailed explanation-4: -A punisher, or punishing stimulus, is a stimulus presented after a response that suppresses or weakens the response. Aversive stimuli have been used as intended punishers; however, they do not always act to suppress behaviors.

Detailed explanation-5: -Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus after an unwanted behavior to discourage a person from repeating the behavior. Spanking and chores are examples of this. On the other hand, negative punishment involves the removal of something desirable.